Shank-shaping machine



May 8, 1928. 1,669,144 L. B. POPE ET AL I SHANK SHAPING MACHINE FiledSept. 29, 1925 Y 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I NVCN+DYSZ May 8, 1928.

L. B. POPE ET AL S HANK SHAPING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 q: NVEN+ D vs:

Filed Sept. 29, 1925 May 8, 1928.

L. BFPOPE ET AL SHANK SHAPING MACHINE Filed Sept. 29. 1925 4Sheets-Sheet 3 May 8, 1928. I 1,669,144

' L. B. POPE ET AL smugx saunas aucxuna Filed Sept. 29, 1925 4Sheets-Sheet 4 All Patented May 8, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,669,144 PATENT OFFICE.

L MA B. POPE AND MARTIN, r. MANN, or HAVERH'ILL, MASSACHUSETTS; am

I MANN assIGNon 'ro SAID POPE.

sntANK-snAPINe MACHINE.

Application filedseptember 29, 1925. Serial No. 59,329.

This invention relates to machines for finishing Louis and similarheels, and particularly for shaping the shank portion of such a heel, orthat which extends forward from the breast of the heel toward or alongthe shank of the shoe. The invention has for its general'object toprovide a novel mechanism for shaping this portion of a. heel blank,said mechanism having a novel mode of operation which, generallyspeaking, consists in applying the shank portion of the heel blank tothe working face of a shaping tool and determining the curvature of theshank by turning the heel blank about an axis exterior to the tool, asdistinguished from the machines heretofore usually employed in which thecurvature of the shank is determined by the shape or path of movement ofthe tool. The machine includes means whereby the heel blanks may beaccurately moved orswung past the shaping tool inthe properpath or arein accordance with the requirements, and preferably also means wherebysaid, blanks will be automatically discharged from the machine after theshaping operation, and is substantially universally adjustable to adaptthe same for use in connection with heels of widely different sizes andshapes.

The ,more particular objects of the invention will best be understoodfrom the following description of a preferred embodiment thereofillustrated in the accompanying drawings. It will be understood,however. that the particular construction described and shown has beenchosen for illustrative' purposes merely, and that the invention. asdefined by the claims hereunto appended. may be otherwise embodied without departure from its spirit and scope.

In the drawings: i

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the machine, showing, partly in section, aheel blank in the jack or work holder prior to being turned intooperative engagement with the shaping tool.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the work holder turned to bring theheel blank into operative engagement with'the tool.

-Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the work holder with its mounting andassociated parts looking in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1. Y f

Fig. 41s an end'elevation looking from the right'in Fig. 3f Y forms, atypical heel type adapted toremove Fig. 5 is a detail section taken onthe lirie 5-5, Fig. 3.

6 is a vertical section and Fig. 7 a froiit elevation of a heel blank.

Figs. 8, 9 and 10" are diagrammatic views illustrating the operation.

While, as will hereinafter appear, the present machine is adapted foruse in connection with heels of a wide variety of of the type to whichthe invention is applicable is shown at 'A' in Figs. 6 and 7 Said heelin its finished form is provided with a concave upper surface aadaptedto engage and fit the heel seat of the shoe, a suitable shaped back orbody portion (Z, a breast portion I), and a shank c which projectsforwardly from the breast. In the finished heel the shank c joins thebreast I) and usually merges therewith in 'a smooth curve, as shown inFig.

6. said shank being also transversely curved in accordance with thetransverse curvature of the heel seat engaging portion a, as mostclearly shown in Fig. 7. The heel seat engaging portion a, breast b, andback d are formed. prior to the transverse shaping of the shank c. byinstrumentalities which constitute. no portion of the present invention.The heel blank. after the operation of said instrumentalities. has ashank of the shape indicated by dotted lines in Figs. 6 and 7. the underside thereof adajacent the. breast 7) being transversely straight as theresult of the formation of said breast b, which gives said shank itsproper vertical curvature but leaves. particularly at the sides of theshank, a quantity of surplus material e which is subsequently removed tofinish the shank. It is to the subsequent shaping or finishing of theshank c. by removing this surplus material e, to give said shank itsproper transverse curvature in parallelism 'to the heel seat engagingportion a, that the present invention relates.

Referring to Fig. 8, the shank sha ing operation is performed by meansof a s aping tool B which may be of any suitable the surplus material 6and the transverse configuration of whose working face (as hereinaftermore fully explained) corresponds to the vertical curve in which theshank c merges into the breast b. In the embodiment of the inventionshown, said tool com rises a grinding disk mounted to rotate a out anaxis X and whose piriphery P constitutes the working face. e heel blankA is swung past the working face of the tool B in an are .which issubstantially tangential to said working face and whose axis isindicated at Y. The axis Y is eccentric to the axis X, is exterior tothe tool B, and is located at the centre of transverse curvature of theheel seat engaging portion a of the blanlgsaid blank being so swung asto maintain this relationship between said surface and axis. Thedistance of the axis Y from the periphery of the tool B corres onds tothe radius of curvature of said sur ace a plus the desired thickness, if

any, of the shank c. It will, therefore, be seen that as the blank A isso swung past the tool B from the position Ishown in Fig. 8, throu h theposition II, and into the posi tion II the originally straight undersurface of the shank a will be shaped by the tool B into a transverselycurved surface coricent'ric to the surface a.

Mechanism by which the above results, may be accomplished is illustratedin Figs. 1 to 5. As shown therein the tool B is suitably mountedon theend of a shaftpro vided with a pulley 16 by which power may be appliedfrom any suitable source through a'belt 17. The shaft 15, whose axis isthe axis X of Fig. 8, is suitably journalled in a head 18 on a table 19.The heel blank A is carried in a ack or work holder, hereinafterdescribed, w ich 1s eccentricallvmounted bn .a shaft 20, whose axis isthe axis Y of Fi 8, said shaft being journalled in suitabl hearings in asecond head or mounting on the table 19 and being provided at its outerend with a hand wheel 21 by means ofwhich -it can be conveniently turnedto swing the heel blank A past. the tool B, as above explained.

. The work holder or jack comprises a sup porting plate 22 having a pairof parallel, angularly'dis osed arms 23 ads ted to be clamped in ajusted osition, with an interposed template 24, iereinafter described,between a fixed head or collar 5. and a washer- 26 on the shaft 20, bymeans of a nut 27 on v the threaded end of-the jatter. The sup- Iporting plate 22 carries a c ampeby means of which the heel blank A maydetachably secured .thereto, saidclamp comprising relatively .fixed andmovable clamping members 8 and 9. The fixing clamping member 8corlpfirises a do pivoted at.3 to a slide 31 late y adjusts, 1e on theplate 22 and secured in adjusted position thereon by a screw clamp 32.-It will "be seen that the slide 81 ma be laterally adjusted to accom-.modate bee blanks of different widths, the

pivoted dog 8 adapting itself automatically .tothe shape of the blanks.The movable clamping member 9 comprising a dog piv-. oted at 4 tothe'plate 22 and having an extended end- 2 connected by a spring withthe ofiset end of an angular stud 36 angularly adjustable in the plate22 to vary the .tension of said spring, the movement of said on asecondcarria e41. The carriage 41 is adjustable, in a directiontransverseto the axis of theshaft 20. bv means of a manually operatedadjusting screw 42, on. a guide 43 secured to the table 19 by means of aclamp comprising a-threaded stem 44 extending through an enlarged 0ening 45 in the table and provided on t e underside of the latter with athreaded, hand operated nut 46. The opening .45, whose preferred form isroughly that of a cross, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, permits asubstantially universal bodily, as well as an angular adjustment of thework supporting head as a whole over the'table 19.

' The axes X and Y of the shafts 15 and 20 respectively preferably liesubstantially in a common plane parallel to the table 19, and theadjustment last referred to permits variation of the position of theaxis Y both angularly and bodily with respect to the axis X insaidplane. The adjustment of the 'carriage 41 on the guide 43 providesforadjustment of the axis Y, and consequently of ment of said workholder relative to the shaft 20 in a direction transverse to the axis ofthe latter.'- The template 24 is formed llu with a peripheral portion inthe form of an arc of a circle whose radius corresponds to the radius ofthe transverse curvature of the heel seat engaging portion a of the heelblank A. Different templates 24 having peripheral surfaces correspondingto different forms of heel blanks may be interchangeably employed, thedetachable mounting of the template and work holder permitting the useof a template chosen in accordance with the particular form of heelblank to be operated upon. A template having the proper curvature havingbeen put in place,

the work holder 22 is clamped 1n such position, transversely of theshaft 20, as to, permit the heel seat engaging portion of the blanks tobe seated upon said periphery, thereby automatically determining theradius of curvature of the.shaped under surface of the shank and causingsaid surface to be-accurately concentric with the surface a. The'latterfactor havingibeen thus determined, the carriage 41 may be so adjustedon its guide 43 as to coinpensate for -of the axis of the shaft 20varies the position of the work with respect to the toolin accordancewith the length, from front torear, of the shank with respect to thebreast of the heel.

The bodily adjustments above referred to of the work carrying head overthe table 19 permit the latter to be adjusted roughly in the tworespects last referred to prior to the finer adjustment of the carriages38 and 41 on the guides and 43 by means of the adjusting screws 39 and42. The angular adjustment of the work carrying head on the table 1 9varies the angle between the axes X and Y and consequently the point ofengagement of the work with the tool. As shown in Fig. 9, a tool Bhaving a pcriphery P of variable curvature at different points may beemployed. Thus, for example, the periphery P of the tool B may have arelatively sharp curvature, or a curvature of relatively short radius,at a point p at its mid-portion and portions p of relatively flattercurvature, or longer radius, at

its sides. \Vithsuch a tool, it will be seen that heels having shanks ofdifierent longitudinal curvature may be shaped by varying the angularrelationship of the work with the tool and consequently the engagementof the former with the latter. Thus, a heel blank A having a relativelyshort shank of relatively sharp curvature may be shaped by engagementwith the portion 9 of the working face P or a heel blank A having'ashank of flatter curvature may be shaped by engagement with the portionp of the working face P It will be understood that the angularadjustment of the head may readily be compensated for in other respectsby the other adjustments referred to.

sects its breast at an angle instead of merging therewith in a curve asin the other forms.- shown.

In order that the heel blanks A, when apt plied to the work holder, maybe properly in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, the tool, as shown in Fig. 2, and at11, 1n

Fig.8, without interference on the part of.

into 'proper Shaping tOOIS htIVIDg working faces orpositioned thereon inaccordance with the other adjustments of the machine, as well as tosquare the breast of the heel with respect to the shapingtool and to fixthe position of the shankswith reference to the template 24, a breastgauge 50 is preferably. employed, said breast gauge being mounted forhorizontal adjustment longitudinally of the axis 'of the shaft 20 upon aslide 51 which in turn is mounted for vertical adjustment in a directiontransverse to said axis on the carria e 38. To this end the gauge 50 is'preferaily provided with a slot 52 to receive a clamping screw'53 forsecuring the same in adjusted position to the slide 51, while said slide51 is formed with a slot 54 to receive an adjusting screw 55 bvmeans ofwhich said. slide may be clampechin adjusted position to the carriage-38. The adjustment of the gauge 50 in the direction of the axis of theshaft 20 provides for heel blanks having shanks of different lengths,while the adjustment transverse to said axis is to compensate fortransverse ad'- justment of the work holder in accordance with the sizeof the template 24, and also.to permit said gauge to'engage the breastof the heel blank at the most advantageous point.

The work engaging edge of the gauge 50 is straight and relatively ion inorder to permit the/angular squaring o the breast of the i heel blankwhen the tion on the work holder, and in order to permit the swinging ofthe workholder from theupper, work-receiving position shown and at I, inFig. 8, past said gauge, it is desirable that the said work holder bemoved in the direction of the axis of the shaft 20 a short distance todisengage the same from said gauge. To this end the shaft 20 is providedwith a cam 56 which cooperates with a fixed cam follower 57 on thecarriage 38, so that as the work holder is turned out of its workreceiving position the shaft 20 will move longitudinally toward thetool, and when said work holder is returned to said position said shaftwill be moved longitudinally in the opposite direction to bring the workholder position for cooperation with the gauge. In order further to fixthe workrec eiving position of the work holder, the shaft 20 ispreferably formed with a shoulder 58 (Fig. 5) which cooperates with aspring-pressed pawl 59 in the carriage 38, said shoulder engaging saidpawl when the work holder is turned into the work-receiving position inthe direction of the arrow on said figure.

After the heel blank has been swung past the tool Bato complete theshaping operation as shown at 111 in Fig. 8, the clamp is auto latter isplaced in posimatically opened to release and discharge said blank bymeans of a fixed cam member 60 carried by a bracket 61 projecting fromthe carriage 38, said cam member being engaged by the projecting end 2of the m0v-- ab e member 9 of the clamp to. retract the latter againstthe spring when the position' III is reached. While the cam member isnormally fixed, it is preferably ad-' justable longitudinally of thebracket 61 in order to secure the best cooperation thereof with theclamp, and to this end is pro V ing'portion of a heel blank, a mountingfor said template upon which it is adapted to turn about the axis ofsaid periphery to swing thelatter past said tool, and a work holderassociated with said template foiholding a heel blank with its heel seatengaging portion, in engagement with said periphe 2; In a heel shankshaping machine, in

combination, a shaping tool, a-template having a curved periphery: tofit the heel seat engaging portion of a heel blank, a work holder forholding 'a heel blank with its heel seat engaging portion in engagementwith said periphery, and a common mounting for said template and workholder upon which they may be swung-about the axis of said p'e- -ripherypast saidtool', said template being detachably carried by said mounting,and said work holder being adjustable thereon toward and from said axisto permit the use of atemplates havingperipheries of difi'erent ra 11.

3. In a heel shank shaping machine, in

combination, a shaping tool, a work holder,.

a mounting for said work holder upon which it may be swung in an arepast the working gfiaoe of said tool, and means for automatically movingsaid work holder in the direction of the axis of said are into and outof the plane of said working face as it is swung.

4. In a heel shank shaping machine, in combination,- a shaping tool, awork holder, ashaft on which said work holder is eccentrically mounted,a mounting in; which said shaft is journalled to swing said work holderpast the working'face' of said tool, a'cam on said shaft, and a: fixedeain follower engaged by said cain 'to move said shaft in the directionof its axis when said shaft is turned.

5. In a heel shank shaping machine, in

combination, a shaping tool, a work holder, andLa. mounting for-saidwork holder upn which the latter is adapted to'swin'g about a normallyfixed axis in an are past said tool; said mountingbeing angularlyadjustable to vary the position ofsaid axis about tool and consequentlytheengagement of a heel blank carried bysaid work holder with said tool.r a

6. In a heel shank shaping machine, in combination, a shaping toolhaving a working face of varying form at different por-' tions thereofres ectively, a work holder,

and a mounting 01' said work holder upon which the latter is adapted toswing in an are past said tool, saidmounting being angularly adjustableto vary the position of the axis of said are about said tool, therebycausing a heel blank carried by saidwor holder to engage different"portions of said working face.

7. In a heel shank shaping machine, in combination, a table, a headthereon, a shaping tool carried by said head, a' second head on saidtable, and a work holder mount-- ed in said second head-to swing pastsaid tool, one of .said heads being adjustable on said table to vary thepath of movement of said work holder with respect tq said tool.

8. In a heel shank shaping machine, in combinatiom-a table aheadthereon; a shaping tool carried by said head, a second head on saidtable, and a work holder mounted in said second head to swing past saidtool,

=one of-said headsbeing bodily movable over said table and attachablethereto in a variety of positions to vary the path; of movement of saidwork holder with resp' t t o said tool.

9. In a heel shankshapi g machine, in combination, a table having anenlarged opening therein, ahead on said table, a shaping tool carried bysaid'head, a second head on. said table, a work holder mounted in saidsecond head to swing past said tool. one of said heads havinga shank,and said tablehaving an enlarged opening through which said shankpasses, and clamping means cooperating with said shank to secure saidlast named head in adjusted position to said table.

10. In a heel shank shaping machine, in a combination, a shaping toolhaving a wforking face shaped to conform to the desired sha eof theshank in one direction, a work hol er, a mounting for said work holderupon which it may be swung in an are past the working face of said t00l,said mounting" being adjustable in the diIGCtlOnOf the axis of said areto vary the point ofenga ement of said tool with a heel blank carried ysaid work holder, and means for securing a heel blank to saidv workholder with its shank portion extending in a direetioneparallel to saidaxis. 11. In a heel shank shaping machine, in combifiation, a table, ashaping tool, means on saidtable for supporting said tool, a work,

holder,-'a support on which said .work holder on which it may is mountedto swing in an are past the working face of said tool, means forsecuring a heel blank to said work holder with its shank portionextending in a direction parallel to the axis of said are and a guide onsaid table on which said support is adjustable in the direction of saidaxes.

12. In a heel shank'shaping' machine, in combination, a shaping toolhaving a working face shaped to conform to the desiredshape of the shankin one direction, a work holder, a mounting for said work holder upbeswung in an are past the working face of said tool, said mounting beingadjustable in the direction" of the axis of said are and also in adirection transverse to said axis to ,vary the point of engagement ofsaid tool with a heel blank carriedby said work holder, and means forsecuring a heel blank to said work holder with its shank portionextending in a' direction 'to said work holder parallel to said axis.

13. In a heel shank shapingi'nacl'iine, in combination, a shaping toolliaving'a working face shaped in cross section to conform to the desiredshape of the shank in one ,direction, a work holder, a mounting-for saidwork holder upon which it may be swung in. an are past the working faceof said tool,.

said work holder being adjustable on said mounting toward and from theaxis of said are, and said mounting being also adjustable in a directiontransverse to the axis of said arc, and means for securing a heel blankwith its shank portion extending in a direct on parallel to said axis.

14. In a heel shank shaping machine, in combination, a table, a shapingtool thereon, a work holder, and a mounting for said work holder uponwhich it may be swung in an are past the working face of said tool, saidmounting including a member secured universally adjustable beingadjustable on said first named member in the direction of the axis ofsaid are and also in a direction transverse to said axis.

. 15. In a heel shank shaping machine, in combination, a table, ashaping tool, means on. said table for supporting said tool, a workholder, asupport' on which said work holder is mounted .to swing in anare past the working face of said tool, a carriage having a guide onwhich. said support is adsaid carriage is adjustable, one of said ad'-justments being other in a directiontransverse to said axis.

16. In a heel shank shaping machine, in combination, a table having anenlarged opening therein, a shaping tool, means on said table forsupporting said tool, a work holder, a support on which said work holderis mounted to swing in an are past the workand a guide on said table onwhich,

in the direction of and the' [said axrs. I

21. In a heel shank shaping machine, in.

ing a heel blank are, and

ing face of said tool, axcarriage having a guide on which said supportis adjustable, a guide on which said carriage is adjustable, one of saidadjustments being in the direction of and the other in a directiontransverse to said axis, and a clamp extending through openingforsecuring said guide in adjusted position to said table.

17. In a heel shank shaping machine, in

combination, a shaping tool, a work holder mounted to swing past saidtool, and a fixed gauge for positioning a heel blank on said work holderprior to the movement of the latter to present said blank to said tool,and means whereby said movement carries said blank out of engagementwith said gauge and into engagement with said tool,

18. In-a heel shank shaping machine, in combination, a shaping tool, awork holder mounted to swing in an are past the working face ofsaidtool, a fixedgauge for positionon said work holder prior to themovement blank to said tool, and means for moving said work holder inthe direction of theaxis of said are as it is swung to carry said blankaway from said gauge and into the plane of the working face of saidtool.

19. In a heel shank shaping machine, in

combination, a shaping tool, a work holder. mounted to swing about anaxis past said tool, a gauge for positioning a on said work holder priorto the movement of the latter to present said blank to said tool, andmeans whereby said movement carries said blank out of engagement withsaid gauge and into engagement with said tool, said gauge being normallyfixed but being adjustable in the direction of said axis.

20. In a heel shank shaping machine, in combination, a shaping tool, aWork holder of the latter to present said heel blank ioo mounted toswing about an axis past said tool,- a gauge for positioning a heelblank on said work holder prior to the movement of the "latter topresent saidiblank to said tool, and means whereby said movement carriessaid blank out of engagement with said gauge and into engagementwith-said tool, said gauge being normally fixed'but being adjustable ina direction transverse to combination, a'sha ing tool, a work holder, amounting for sai work holder upon which it may be swung in an are pastthe working face of said tool, and a'gauge for positioning a heel blankon said work holder prior to the movement of the latter to present saidblank to said tool, said mounting being adjustable in the direction ofthe axis of said said gauge being normally fixed'but being alsoadjustable in the direction of said axis.

22. In a heel shank shaping machine, in I combination, a. shaping tool,awork holder,

a mounting for said work holder upon which said, gauge being normallyfixed but being adjustable in. a direction transverse to said axis. o

23. In a heel shank shaping machine, in combination, a shaping tool, awork holder mounted to swing past said tool, and a clamp on said workholder for securing a heel blank thereto, said clamp including alaterally adjustable slide having a pivoted blank engaging member and acooperating spring pressed member for forcing the blank against saidfirst named member.

' 24. In a heel shank shaping machine, in combination, a shaping tool, awork holder mounted to swing past said tool, a clamp on said work holderfor securing a heel blank thereto, and means for opening said clamp torelease said blank when the'latter has been moved past said tool. i

25. In a heel shank shaping machine, i combination, a shaping tool, 'awork holder mounted to swing past said tool, a clamp on said work holderfor securing a heel blank thereto, said clamp including a spring pressedmember, and means for retracting said member to release said blank when,the

' latter has been moved past said tool.

26. In a' heel shank shaping machine, in

combination, a shaping tool, a work holder mounted-to swing past saidtool, a clamp on combination, a shaping tool, a work holder 1 mounted toswing past said tool, a clamp on said work holder for securing a heelblank thereto, said clamp including a spring pressed member, and a fixed.cam engaged by and retracting said member to release said blank whenthe latter has been moved past said tool.

28. In a heel shank shaping machine, in H combination, a shaping toolhaving a Working. face of varying form at different portions thereofrespectively, a avork holder, and a mounting for said Work holder uponwhich the latter is adapted to swing-in an are past said tool, saidmounting being angularly adjustable to shift the position of the axisofjsaid arc bodily about said tool, thereby causing a heel blank carriedby said work holder to engage ditferent portions of said working face.

In testimony whereof we aflixour signa turesa LYMAN B. POPE.

MARTIN F. MANN,

